Wednesday, february 23, 2011

2. Wednesday, february 23, 2011 • What are we doing today? • Turn in your PERSONAL ESSAYS in the bin! • Daily Question • SELECT Acronym for Quote Identifications (example) • Quote Identifications from Part I of The Metamorphosis • Metamorphosis Part I Questions (groups of 3) • HOMEWORK: • Part II of The Metamorphosis and Double-entry notes due TOMMORROW. Course recommendations: Do this one on a separate sheet… I’m going to use it as I make my recommendations for you for English 12. Which course would you like to be recommended for? English 12 CP English 12 Honors Explain your preference.

3. Wednesday, february 23, 2011 • What are we doing today? • Daily Question • Introduce “Kafka and the ISMs” Project • Library for group research time • HOMEWORK: • Part II of The Metamorphosis and double entry notes due TOMORROW. Personal essay due tomorrow. Course recommendations: Do this one on a separate sheet… I’m going to use it as I make my recommendations for you for English 12. Which course would you like to be recommended for? English 12 Honors AP Lit and Comp Keep in mind: AP Lit is a full-year course—make sure you consider this when making your recommendation to me.

4. S.e.l.e.c.t. For quote identifications

5. s.e.l.e.c.t. for quote identifications: example • “No plea of Gregor's helped, no plea was even understood; however humbly he might turn his head, his father merely stamped his feet more forcefully […] he drove Gregor on, as if there were no obstacle […] his father gave him a hard shove, which was truly his salvation, and bleeding profusely, he flew far into his room” (Kafka 19). • S: Speaker—who is the speaker in the passage?The speaker of the passage is the unnamed, omniscient narrator. The narrator understands Gregor’sinner thoughts. • E: Events—Relate this passage to the plot of the text.When this passage occurs, Gregor is being forced back into his room by his father, after his family has reacted with terror at the sight of their transformed brother/son. • L: Literary devices and language—highlight literary devices used.In this passage, the language reinforces Gregor’s sense of helplessness. The words “plea,” “humbly,” and “salvation” emphasize the fact that Gregor is weak and confused and looking for help from his family members. However, his father is described as “stamp[ing]… forcefully” and giving him a “hard shove,” which creates a contrast with the language used to describe Gregor’s feelings and movement. Thus, in this passage, Gregor is weak and abused, while his father is domineering and abusive. This reminds me of the way Franz Kafka’s relationship with his father was characterized in the background article that we read last week.

6. s.e.l.e.c.t. for quote identifications: example • “No plea of Gregor's helped, no plea was even understood; however humbly he might turn his head, his father merely stamped his feet more forcefully […] he drove Gregor on, as if there were no obstacle […] his father gave him a hard shove, which was truly his salvation, and bleeding profusely, he flew far into his room” (Kafka 19). • E: Explain the significance of important words.As alluded to earlier, it is significant that Gregor’s father is characterized as dominant and violent, whereas Gregor is characterized as vulnerable and abused. The fact that his “salvation” was his father’s final “hard shove” demonstrates that, in this passage, violence frees Gregor, in a way. It’s possible that he’s freed from the embarassment and humiliation he experiences when face-to-face with his family and coworkers. Although Gregor is injured and “bleeding profusely,” he is still somewhat saved by being allowed to retreat back into the safety and anonymity of his locked bedroom. • C: Context—show how this passage relates to the rest of the text.This passage relates to the rest of the text because Gregorconstantly faces the abuse of those around him and he is alienated from them the whole time. This passage also demonstrates that Gregor’s pleas are being misunderstood (or ignored) by those around him, contributing to his feelings of alienation. • T: Themes—connect passage to emerging themes.This passage relates to the emerging themes of alienation from others caused by demeaning experiences. Gregor’s own family, in this passage, is literally responsible for the humiliation he experiences.

7. S.e.l.e.c.t. For quote identifications: You try “[T]he manager burst out with a loud "Oh!" – it sounded like a rush of wind – and now he could see him standing closest to the door, his hand pressed over his open mouth slowly backing away, as if repulsed by an invisible, unrelenting force” (Kafka 16).